Missile fired at French plane in Chad, France says

PARIS, Oct 24 (Reuters) A ground-to-air missile was fired at a French military aircraft on a reconnaissance mission in eastern Chad, but missed its target, the French armed forces said today.

''Yesterday morning an Atlantique two patrol plane on an observation mission in eastern Chad detected a missile being fired. The plane was not hit,'' armed forces spokesman Christophe Prazuck said, adding that it was not known who fired the missile.

Rebels have attacked two towns in eastern Chad in recent days and appeared to be moving across the mostly desert country towards the capital N'Djamena, recalling a lightning assault on the city in April in which hundreds were killed.

REUTERS BDP HT1915